F-T: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Rotherham United 0

The Millers had produced a wonderful battling performance to frustrate the play-off-chasing home side and were only moments away from extending their 35-year unbeaten run on Owls turf when Richard Wood was judged to have fouled Lucas Joao in the area.

Steven Fletcher stepped up to score against the Championship's bottom side whose efforts had been worthy of a point.

Rotherham interim boss Paul Warrne is now in line for an extended spell in the job as Rotherham have shown a big improvement in his four matches in charge and his players gave their all for the cause at Hillsborough.

Centre-half Wood was sent off during the Millers' protests following the spot-kick award.

Wednesday dominated possession in a flat first half, although the best chances, ironically, fell to Rotherham.

Joao fluffed shots three times for the home side, Tom Lees headed wide and Aymen Abdi hit the side-netting as the Millers defence held firm.

At the other end, Peter Odemwingie blazed a decent shooting opportunity over the bar, while Warne's team actually put the ball in the net just before the break.

Tom Adeyemi headed home Joe Newell's free-kick, but referee Tim Robinson ruled it out for an infringement he but not that many others saw.

The Millers were without one of their main attacking threats in Izzy Brown, a hamstring problem keeping the Chelsea loan teenager out of the side, which meant an instant return for Odemwingie after a three-match ban.

Skipper Frecklington returned in midfield after being rested at Fulham in midweek, with Will Vaulks dropping to the bench.

The game opened up after the interval, although it was still far from a classic.

Gritty Rotherham didn't mind that as they traded chances with the Owls.

Adeyemi shot across goal and wide in the 54th minute and Lee Frecklington's 76th-minute shot was deflected for a corner.

Darnell Fisher had to clear off the line from Joao in the 53rd minute and Lewis Price got down well to prevent a headed Joe Mattock own goal 13 minutes later.

Price made a comfortable stop from a Steven Fletcher header with seven minutes to go before the game exploded with the penalty decision in time added on.

Cruel, cruel luck on the gritty Millers.

Sheffield Wednesday (4-4-2): Westwood; Palmer, Lees, Loovens, Pudil; Lee (Jones H-T), Abdi (Wallace 34), Hutchinson, Reach (Nuhiu 61); Joao, Fletcher. Subs not used: Wildsmith, Sougou, Sasso, Hirst.

Rotherham United (4-4-1-1): Price; Fisher, Wood, Belaid, Mattock; Forde, Adeyemi, Frecklington, Newell; Odemwingie (Blackstock, 69); Ward. Subs not used: Bilboe, Kelly, Ball, Vaulks, Taylor, Yates.

Goal: Fletcher pen 90+2 (Sheffield Wednesday).

Referee: Tim Robinson (West Sussex).

Attendance: 27,272.

Click here for more Millers news